Ashley’s Memorable Farewell

by Lourdes | Jan 20, 2023 | Uncategorized

Not many times do we encounter people living with life-threatening illnesses and yet bravely embracing them. This is the story of Ashley Noronha, a brave young 28-year-old who valiantly fought CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) for over five years. Brought up in a family that faced constant financial difficulties and health problems, Ashley worked as a receptionist in a hotel in Anjuna – North Goa, even during his cancer treatment at the Goa Medical College.

As his health deteriorated in the past six months, his spirit burned bright, refusing to let pain dictate how he would live the remainder of his life. He had to give up work and stay home. Still, he continued to plow through his deteriorating health and depleting financial circumstances. He did this with the help of his elder brothers – Prince and Royston, as well as the GMC team headed by Dr. Anupama Borker, Sameer Cuncolkar (Cipla Foundation Social Worker), and Sagarika Prabhu Gaonkar (Sabrcare Social Worker).

Needing constant medical attention, he moved to Shanti Avedna Hospice in Loutolim under Dr. Mavis Falleiro. Ashley was definitely one of a kind. He was sharp, bright, entertaining, and humble. He never allowed the illness to get the better of him. He listened to his favorite hymns at the hospice, drew, wrote, chatted, and was kept most comfortable by the sisters of Shanti Avedna.

On the 17th of January, the sisters of Shanti Avedna called to inform us that Ashley’s health was fast deteriorating and was calling for us. We reached there within an hour, expecting the worst, only to find him chatting with all the ward sisters. His family gathered around him with sadness, but neither the pain nor his shortness of breath fazed him. The knowledge that he did not have much time pushed him to do something we did not expect.

He requested a farewell party!

Not requested, but insisted that his parents, siblings, friends, GMC doctors, social workers, and his care team gather for some cake, chips, and juice. He wanted music and decor.

He demanded his brother shave him before the party and groom his hair while his other brother gave him a sponge bath. Sagarika even gave him some makeup touch-ups to make him feel his best.

If someone said they could not make it, he would comically say, “You will deny me my dying wish?”

Thanks to the sisters of Shanti Avedna and Dr. Mavis, Sameer, and Sagarika, we were able to arrange a party in 2 hours. A hall decorated for Ashley, with cake, chips, and juice. We played music and sang songs, and his family and friends came and clicked selfies with him near the photo wall.

He spoke, he joked, and he laughed. He knew he did not have much time, so he kept pushing himself to stay awake. He was scared to close his eyes. He just knew. Ashley saw to it that everyone ate and drank, he kept us entertained with his wit and jokes. He even asked for his favorite drink – rum and coke (his doctor, unfortunately, refused the rum part). Ashley was surrounded by everyone who cherished him and who was on his team.

Finally, around 8 30 PM, the sisters informed us that it was time for him to get some rest. He wouldn’t let us go, and we didn’t want to leave – but we knew he needed his rest.

That night, as Ashley fell asleep, he never woke up again.

The Story Of Our Cancer Warrior, Jovena Menezes

by Alita Fernandes | Jul 16, 2021 | Uncategorized

I was 25 years old when I was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma (a type of bone cancer). I was playing football when I got kicked on my left leg. At that time, I didn’t do anything about it. I didn’t even apply ice on it and just left it as it was. This happened in January 2019. Until February 2020, I didn’t feel a thing. No pain, nothing!

In March, my leg began to hurt. It would hurt me for two days, and then the pain would go away. This kept happening for about four months. Then in August, the pain became much worse than before.

I got myself checked, and the doctor asked me to wait for another month. The pain came back. So I went to another doctor who did an MRI scan. It was then that I was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma.

I later went to another doctor who suggested to me Dr. Anupama Borker at Goa Medical College. I am the only daughter of my parents. My parents were agitated and depressed when they found out about my cancer.

Initially, I was very nervous. I would take care of everything because my parents don’t know how to read, and they didn’t know anything about my cancer. I explained to my parents all about Ewing Sarcoma. The doctor called my parents to tell them about the treatment.

This was all new to me. I cried a lot at that time. My family, friends, and the doctors’  supported me a lot during this time. The doctor assured me that she would take care of me.  

My treatment started in January 2020. And ended in November 2020. Initially, I wasn’t aware of the side effects of chemotherapy. Before taking any medicine, I would research about it on the internet and only then take it.

Before this, I was never hospitalized. Last year was my 1st experience being hospitalized. My doctors told me that I was strong. It is said that your 1st chemo always hits terribly. But I didn’t feel anything. However, in the afternoon, I became nauseous. I went to the washroom and collapsed. So a nurse took me out of that room and shifted me to another ward.

Eating food the night after chemo was always a problem. I had no taste. And wherever I went, even if the place was clean, I would get a bad smell. I then realized that the smell was coming from me. It was the smell from the chemo I went through. I wanted everything around me to be very clean.

Chemotherapy was a three-day cycle. After chemo, I would stay at the hospital for three days. This continued for almost 6 months. I would be alright on the 1st day after chemo. I would then again lose the sense of taste from dinner the same night and get it back after 2-3 days. Every 15 days, I had to go to the hospital. So it was almost 15 cycles that I had to go through. Out of which, 8 cycles were of 4 days and 7 cycles of one day of chemo.

In June 2020, I did my CT scan and MRI. The nodules that were there in my lungs disappeared. The tumor shrunk. The doctor then suggested that I do radiation. So I did radiation at the Manipal hospital for almost 28 days. I was going through radiation and chemo at the same time. While taking the radiation, the dose was very light; hence it wasn’t that bad.

Even before cancer, I would hardly be at home because I loved going out, meeting new people, and making new friends. I was involved in everything. It was a little tense from January to March because the youth of my age would roam around, and I could not enjoy myself as I had to sit at home.

The doctors were very helpful. When I would go for chemo, I’d talk to the other patients besides me, play games. My mother was there beside me, so we would pray. The doctors and the nurses supported me a lot during this time. If I wanted to eat food, they would lovingly tell me to eat because I had to get stronger.

Sometimes, when the hospital sisters would finish their work late, I would sit and talk with them. I ended up building a really good relationship with the people I was around with. At times the sisters would make fun of me, and I’d make fun of them. They were always very supportive.

When I would go for chemo, I could talk a lot the first day and spend time with them. However, the next day I would end up going to sleep early. I am not the type of person who can sit in one place for long. So whenever I felt good, I would move around and talk to the rest.

I had to go to the hospital every 15 days, so twice a month. Now, I have completed my treatment. However, there is a chemo port that the doctors are yet to remove. Once that is removed, I’ll be the happiest and feel free!

In April, I did a PET scan, and my reports came back normal. I have completely recovered now. However, until and unless the port is there, I won’t feel free.

The day I completed my treatment, I felt amazing!  My doctors supported me so much during that time, so I made tiny flowers out of straws for each of them. My parents felt good as well. However, even they are in a bit of a strain because they too are waiting for the doctors to finally remove the port.

Because of the rise in COVID cases at the hospital, the doctor advised me not to visit now. However, when I have an appointment, I go to get the chemo port flushed. If I don’t flush the port, it gets blocked.

My entire experience brought me closer to God. I used to pray before, but not as whole-heartedly as I do now. I learned the value of prayer. The second thing that I learned is that not everybody is concerned about you as much as you thought they would. These were the two things I learned.

Life after cancer is very good! I am now back to my usual self. The only thing I miss is the long hair I had before. My hair is short, so my friends tease me about it. However, I am very naughty myself, so I tease them back!

My message to parents and children going through this phase is that once they have decided to go through with the treatment, be firm with your decision. Without going through it, you don’t know what the result can be. Secondly, have faith in God and pray because prayer is the only medicine that can cure you.